The Potential Role for Biomass as a Long-Duration Store of Energy - scoping study for the Supergen Bioenergy Hub and the UK Energy Research Centre

Abstract:

This report investigates the potential role of biomass as a long-duration energy storage solution to address seasonal and weather-related variations in renewable energy output. It examines how bioenergy infrastructure, such as seasonally harvested crops and waste wood, could provide flexibility across electricity, heat, and gas systems while considering the implications of integrating biomass with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) for negative emissions. The study seeks to answer key questions about the technical, commercial, and operational implications of flexible biomass use, the suitability of different fuel and plant types, and the conditions under which BECCS could become viable. It also explores the constraints on biomass supply chains, plant investment, and operation, as well as the competition between UK-produced and international feedstocks. The research aims to understand the broader implications of using biomass for energy storage, including its economic, environmental, and social impacts. It emphasizes the need for a whole-systems approach to evaluate the role of biomass in delivering both negative emissions and energy system flexibility, while addressing gaps in energy system modeling and policy frameworks.

Author(s):

Colechin, M.